I know there is an off limits for river herring, but that ocean herring are catchable. I'm finding loads of herring in the harbor and am clueless as to whether it is legal or not. I don't think it is as simple as "i didn't catch in the river, so it must be ok to use", but honestly not sure what the differences of the two are. Last thing I want to do is catch illegal 7" fish.

Thanks for any help

Chances are you are seeing River Herring, Alewives or Blueback herring, which ARE protected.

Atlantic Herring are allowed but that is likely NOT what you are seeing in your waters.

The terms being used do not state where you find them but are nicknames for specific types of herring.

Go to this site and look at Alewife, Blueback, and plain old Herring

http://www.maine.gov/dmr/recreational/anglerguide/doyouknowyourcatch/index.htm#f

Here this one is better

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/herring_id.pdf

Here this one is better

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/herring_id.pdf


Yep - that one is better ;)

Here this one is better

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/herring_id.pdf

Thanks, this is much clearer than the Maine link. I had found that searching before I posted my question and had still been unclear.

I think I was actually catching Atlantic, if the river Herring really have that pronounced of a stomach. The bait I ran into appeared to be much thinner, some with a slight blue and some with a brown/green back. Their tails also appeared to be much more of a narrow fork, like the Atlantic in the picture.

Is anyone catching Atlantic Herring in the area? How about one of you pro's come out fishing w/ me and can clarify and teach me a thing or two? Still in hunt for the first keeper this year. :thanks:

jigging macs on sat. i jigged up a couple of sea herring , i know they are thinner than river herring but they went back over the side , i got stopped 2 weeks ago by the clam cops and i am not going to take a chance that they can tell the differance

I fished a certain area sunday and was jigging up mackeral and atlantic herring 2/3 at a time. I would suspect in your area you were seeing the same thing. Legal and bass love them.

I fished a certain area sunday and was jigging up mackeral and atlantic herring 2/3 at a time. I would suspect in your area you were seeing the same thing. Legal and bass love them.

I was searching for Macks, and everywhere I looked, could only find Herring.

I was searching for Macks, and everywhere I looked, could only find Herring.

I encountered the same as you guys, loads of ocean herring, and thin on macks. Yes you can use the ones we are getting, and they are striper candy....